“We set the benchmark based on scientific evidence and other best practice policies and work with partners across farming and food systems to ensure their standards are translated into good welfare outcomes in practice,” she says.

The SPCA Blue Tick manages a delicate balance to achieve the best welfare outcome for NZ farm animals in general, says Ségolène de Fontenay, unit manager at the SPCA Blue Tick.

“While maintaining the best welfare standards without compromise to the animals, we also take into consideration consumer and farmers’ opinions and respond to the demands of retailers with practical solutions which make the process affordable for farmers and their produce affordable for consumers.

“We look forward to having Dr Arnja’s acumen on the team to help us strike the perfect balance between high animal welfare and finding practical solutions for farmers to meet our high standards at the most affordable price possible for consumers,” says de Fontenay.

Prior to joining the SPCA, Arnja was a Senior Lecturer in Animal Welfare at Unitec Institution of Technology where she ran the Animal Welfare Investigations programme. Arnja has a degree in Zoology, a Masters in Ecology and a Masters in Animal Welfare.